Bill > H4772

This bill authorizes the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant permanent and perpetual easements to the city of Lowell for specific infrastructure purposes along the Merrimack River. The easements cover approximately 6,750 square feet across three parcels of land currently owned by the Commonwealth and under the control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The city of Lowell will be permitted to use these easements for constructing, maintaining, accessing, operating, replacing, repairing, patrolling, and removing outfall structures and mainline drains. As compensation, Lowell must either provide improvements to nearby conservation and recreation property equal to the fair market value of the land or pay a sum equivalent to that value. The bill includes several protective measures, such as requiring the city to restore the surface condition to its original or better state within 24 months of any work, and a provision that if the easement is not used for its intended purpose, the land will revert to the Commonwealth. The transaction must be independently appraised, reviewed by the inspector general, and reported to legislative committees, ensuring transparency and proper valuation of the property transfer.

House Committee on Ways and Means (House)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4772